Page 93 of The Greek Café

‘You have already done that,’ I tell him.

‘And, of course, I wanted to be alone with you again, so I could do this.’

He pulls me to him, his lips coming down on mine and we share a thrilling kiss that seems like the culmination of a journey. I feel every nerve in my body awakening with a feeling of pure pleasure. When we finally come up for air, we stand, arms wrapped around each other’s waist. Standing here, the empty boats in front of us, it feels like we are the only two people in the world.

‘I never expected to feel this way again,’ Takis tells me as he looks lovingly into my eyes. ‘It made me realise that I had not been in love with Anna for a long time. If I was, I would never have fallen for this English girl on the beach.’

FORTY-SEVEN

‘Could you not keep the café closed all day?’ Takis nuzzles my neck while I unpack the shopping.

‘I have a business to run,’ I remind him, before he kisses me again.

‘I could drag you upstairs now. What time are you opening?’ he asks hopefully.

‘In around fifteen minutes. And if you are telling me that is enough time, maybe I am in for a disappointment,’ I say and he laughs.

‘There you go again, always the joker.’

‘Who says I’m joking?’

‘Right. Now I am worried,’ he says, but with a smile playing around his lips. ‘Anyway, I will look forward to this evening,’ he says. ‘I hope you are free?’

‘Well, I am meant to be washing my hair, but I suppose I could make an exception,’ I joke.

‘Shall I book us a table somewhere?’ he offers, after chuckling to himself. ‘And we can finally have that date, just the two of us.’

‘I could cook? Nothing fancy, some pasta and a nice bottle of wine? I am not going to attempt a Greek dish.’

‘Pasta sounds good.’ He smiles and glances at his watch. ‘See you tonight then. I have a booking in an hour to take a group of four to Lindos.’

He leaves my lips tingling with one more kiss, and I feel as if I am floating on air when I open the café door.

Within ten minutes some locals pop in for afternoon pastries and coffee, and a trickle of walkers enjoying the beautiful weather stop by for snacks and drinks.

Ireta is busy today but told me to call her if there is a sudden rush. I am happy to say that I have managed without her.

Just after six, I lock up and head upstairs.

I shower and feel my nerves flutter in anticipation, when Takis messages me to say he will be here in around an hour.

‘How was your day?’ I ask when Takis arrives. He looks even more handsome than he did this morning, if that were possible.

‘Interesting,’ he says, as I hand him a glass of red wine. ‘One of the women on the trip was violently seasick, and the other couple argued the whole time.’

‘Oh dear.’

‘The partner of the sick woman spent most of the time on his phone ignoring her. I imagine it was a memorable trip for all of them, for all the wrong reasons,’ he says, as he sips his wine.

My room isn’t large enough for a dining table, so we sit at a small table and two chairs on the balcony. I purchased the set online and they are a perfect size.

‘I am impressed,’ says Takis when he eyes the balcony. I have twisted fairy lights through two shrubs in planters and dressed the table with a white tablecloth and a vase of wildflowers at the centre.

We eat our bowls of pasta, my go-to chicken and chorizo dish, and sip our full-bodied wine.

‘This is delicious,’ says Takis. ‘Next time I will cook you my risotto.’

‘At your place?’